Quote: Legislators are newly arming themselves with laws that will protect kids from being repeatedly harassed via the Internet, text messages, or other electronic devices. In recent weeks, Rep. Linda Sanchez (D-Calif.) and Rep. Kenny Hulshof (R-Mo.) proposed a federal law that would criminalize acts of so-called cyberbullying (PDF). And Missouri Gov. Matt Blunt was scheduled Friday to sign into state law a similar measure, but the event was postponed because of inclement weather in St. Louis.
Link to April 2008 School Library Journal interview with WiredSafety's Parry Aftab, an Internet privacy and security lawyer.
Quote: We're finding that tweens are a hotbed of cyberbullying. Fourth grade is the peak at the younger ages. Then there's another peak as they get into seventh and eighth grade. Kids are doing all kinds of things to hurt themselves and each other. And because kids who are involved in this issue are getting younger and younger, we need to make sure that those who educate them are getting younger and younger.
Aftab's organization, stopcyberbullying.org encourages a "Take 5" educational approach.
thanks Paul. We appreciate your help in drawing attention to the issue. StopCyberbullying.org is a program of wiredsafety.org. we are all unpaid volunteers in the charity.
ReplyDeleteWe have a new megan pledge application page at myyearbook.com/meganpledge
we hope to have 1 million people take it online and offline by year end.
Best.
Parry